Man charged in elderly woman's rape

St. George police have arrested a man suspected of raping an 86-year-old woman.

Police arrested Juan Carlos Jimenez, 20, after the victim came forward to report the crime to police on Monday. The alleged sexual assault took place 10 days earlier, police said.

"She was in fear, we think. That's partly why it took so long to report it," St. George Police Capt. Barry Golding told the Deseret Morning News.

Jimenez was acquainted with the victim, police said, and had been in her home before. Police declined to release details about the crime, saying it was still under investigation.

"We've got to get an interpreter to interview the victim," Golding said. "She speaks no English."

Golding said the police department's victim services unit was working with the woman to ensure that she is safe.

On Tuesday, Jimenez made his initial appearance in St. George's 5th District Court, where he was formally charged with aggravated sexual assault and forcible sodomy, both first-degree felonies; and witness tampering, a third-degree felony. He hired his own attorney, and a judge reduced his bail. Jimenez posted $25,000 bail on Tuesday and was released from the Purgatory Jail.

"There were people involved on the elderly victim's side that had been contacted by the suspect," Golding said.